Ten Pin Talk: Martin, Vernon, Romero city winners

Okay, just for the record, I picked Seattle to beat New England 37-22 in Super Bowl XLIX Sunday.

I did have the score 37-24, but I felt it necessary to deflate a couple of points. And yes, I started writing this before the game (not much before, but I started it before the game).

But I digress ...

Steve Martin, Josh Vernon and Bill Romero were the big (albeit unofficial) winners at the 204 Great Falls USBC City Open Tournament, which was wrapped up last weekend.

Martin, rolling in Division 1, had a 756 scratch series in singles, giving him both the scratch and handicap titles. He also joined forces with Ron Corkin to win the scratch doubles title.

Vernon was a winner in Division 2 handicap singles, handicap and scratch All-Events, while Romero got wins in Division 3 handicap singles, D-3 handicap and scratch All Events, and a second for his Brew Pub squad in team.

THE GFUSBC WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT starts Sat., Feb. 14 and runs for two weekend, with all bowling happening at Little’s Lanes.

Again, the cost is $20 per person per event, with $1,000 added money to the prize fund from GFUSBC.

Entry forms are available online, and from any local bowling center.

ROBERT AZURE AND PIKE Construction, both from Chinook, have moved into their respective leads at the Budweiser Handicap tournament at Snowy Lanes in Lewistown.

Azure shot an 1,173 over five games to take the singles lead. Jered Rorvik of Billings is six sticks behind in second, and Week One leader Amanda Solomon of Great Falls is another two pins behind in third.

Robert and Dave Azure, along with Matt and Tim Finley, make up the Pike Construction squad that rolled a 2,675 to take an 84-pin lead over last week’s leaders, We Suck (Amanda Solomon, Teresa Solomon, Bernie Dickman and Donnie White) of Great Falls. GOTE of Lewistown, Billings and Harlem is third.

The tournament will last another three weeks. Call Rex Coleman at Snowy Lanes, (406) 535-3473.

THE 33RD ANNUAL JEANETTE Martinich Classic is just around the corner — Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8 — at Star Lanes Family Bowling Center in Butte.

This is a scratch tournament for females only (with a current Montana USBC Adult or Youth League membership; USBC Youth bowlers placing on the prize list will win a scholarship).

Qualifying shifts (five games) will be Saturday at 4 and 6:30 p.m. The top 12 qualifiers advance to Sunday’s match play, which starts at 10 a.m. sharp, after which the top five will bowl eliminator-style finals.

Entry fee is $60 per bowler. Entries will close five minutes before the 6:30 shift on Saturday. Call tournament manager Laurie Tripp at (406) 498-4167, or email her at laurie.tripp@onvoy.com for more details.

For the record, I’ll be in Lewistown next Saturday for the Budweiser Handicap. Hope to see you there.

Tribune Sports Writer Lee Vernoy writes TEN PIN TALK for the Tribune every week. Contact him with all things bowling (and a few that aren’t) at (406) 791-6569, or email him, lvernoy@greatfallstribune.com.